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Parenting Playbook is a monthly column from Forbes Vetted that offers strategies and tactics to help you tackle parenthood like a pro.
The prospect of pumping away from home can be daunting, no matter where you’re going or if you’ll have your baby in tow. There are just so many unforeseen circumstances that come with both travel and parenting. Luckily, after exclusively pumping for months with both of my kids, I’ve done the crying over spilled milk so you don’t have to—and rounded up everything you need to know about how to pump while traveling.
To provide a comprehensive guide on how to create the most seamless pumping experience on the road, I shared my own tips and also spoke with other moms and experts. That includes Katie Montell, a baby gear expert and founder of The Baby Planner , Dr. Jenelle Ferry , a board-certified neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix Medical Group and Paula Norcott, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Lactation Program Director for Pumpspotting .
Traveling with kids requires a lot of extra gear, and while the same goes for pumping away from home, there are a wide array of products available these days that make the experience a whole lot simpler.
“As much as you can, try to stick to your regular pumping schedule or your baby’s feeding schedule during your travel time,” says Ferry. If you’re pumping while traveling and are away from your baby, she suggests “taking a picture of your baby to look at or even hopping on FaceTime during pumping, as it can also help facilitate let down and production during longer periods away from your baby.”
Traveling with a wearable breast pump is a convenient option as it’s more compact and easy to pack. However, some moms find a wearable breast pump isn’t as efficient as a traditional pump . This was not my experience, as I’m an underproducer either way, but its worth noting. Regardless of what type of pump you’re traveling with, be sure to pack it in a container that protects it from being broken. For road trips, I typically pack mine in my diaper bag or purse. For air travel, I place it in my carry-on .
